Owls top Cougars for trip to Omaha

Posted: Tuesday, June 10, 2003

The Associated Press

HOUSTON - Wade Townsend struck out nine, and Dane Bubela's two-run single helped Rice advance to the College World Series for the fourth time in seven years with a 5-2 victory against Houston on Monday.

The Owls (53-11) won the best-of-three series and will play in the CWS for the second straight year. Rice, 1-6 in the CWS, was eliminated with two straight losses last season.

Townsend (10-1) worked eight innings and allowed four hits, including an RBI-single by Travis Tully in the first inning. He walked two and retired 11 straight over one stretch.

Bubela broke a 2-all tie in fourth with a two-out single, and Justin Ruchti added an RBI-single in the sixth.